Abstract: An arrangement for a thin-film photovoltaic cell stack comprises a substrate layer for a photovoltaic cell and a molybdenum grid positioned on the substrate layer, an ultra-thin alloy layer made of copper, indium, gallium and selenium positioned on the molybdenum grid, and a buffer layer positioned on the ultra-thin alloy layer made of copper, indium, gallium and selenium and a window layer positioned on the buffer layer.

Abstract: An optical method for characterizing a diffractive surface having a crystal grain structure, including the steps of: a) successively illuminating said surface with a plurality of light beams (Fi) having propagation directions inclined by a same angle ?; relative to the normal to the surface and of which the projections on the surface form azimuth angle ?{umlaut over (?)} that are different relative to a reference direction; b) acquiring an image of the surface corresponding to each of the light beams; and c) digitally processing images to obtain at least one item of information on at least one property of the surface chosen from: the grain structure, texture and level of ordering thereof. An optical head (TO) and apparatus for implementing such a method.

Abstract: A method for depositing particles onto a substrate, or a running substrate, including: (a) making a compact film of particles floating on a carrier liquid provided in a transfer area having an outlet of particles laid out facing the substrate; (b) depositing a substance on the compact film of particles, in the transfer area; (c) transferring, through the outlet of particles and onto the substrate, the compact film of particles coated with the substance; and then (d) removing the substance to carry away with the substance the particles of the film which adhere to the substance, to generate at least one recessed area within the film deposited on the substrate.

Abstract: A method for orienting elongated objects arranged on the surface of a substrate, the elongated objects extending according to an initial orientation, the method including depositing on the surface of the substrate at least one layer of a soft material covering at least partially a portion of the elongated objects, and applying a mechanical stress on at least one portion of the layer of soft material in such a way as to modify the orientation of at least one portion of the elongated objects.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing method and machine for an object using at least one powder, capable of limiting risks of dissemination of the powder. The method including the following steps in succession: manufacture a solid block starting from the powder and a sublimatable material, load the solid block in a loading space of the machine; sublimate the material present in the solid block and recover the powder; and additive manufacturing of the object by stacking successive layers made using the powder recovered in the previous step.

Abstract: A method of transferring objects onto a substrate, or a moving substrate, the objects to be transferred being placed in a transfer area including an inlet and an outlet spaced apart from one another by two lateral edges opposite one another, and holding a carrier liquid forming a conveyor, the objects being held by a compact film of particles floating on the carrier liquid of the transfer area, in which the objects are moved with the particle film to be transferred onto the substrate when they reach the outlet.

Abstract: A facility for depositing a film of ordered particles onto a moving substrate, the facility including: a transfer area including an entry of particles and an exit of particles spaced apart from each other by two side edges facing each other, retaining a carrier liquid on which the particles float, a capillary bridge ensuring connection between the carrier liquid contained in the transfer area and the substrate, and a plurality of suction nozzles capable of attracting the particles towards its two side edges.

Abstract: A textured surface for a solar heat absorber, includes a substrate in an optically reflective material having a reference surface and a group of textural elements distributed according to a two-dimensional arrangement along the reference surface. The elementary structure of a textural element includes a cavity formed in the substrate and a crown. The crown projects beyond the reference surface and is positioned directly on the periphery of the edge of the cavity.

Abstract: A process for depositing a compact film of particles on an internal surface of a part, including: a) placing the part in a carrier liquid; b) generating a carrier liquid stream in a hollow of the part towards a surface of the carrier liquid, to create a protuberance; c) dispensing the particles to form a compact film floating on the liquid between a contact line and an upstream front of particles; and d) transferring the film onto the internal surface by operating a relative displacement between the part and the surface of the carrier liquid, while continuing dispensing the particles on the upstream front.

Abstract: An installation for forming a compact film of particles on a surface of a carrier fluid, including: a zone acting as a reservoir of carrier fluid; an inclined ramp; a particle storage and transfer zone situated extending from the inclined ramp; a mechanism moving the fluid; a mechanism dispensing the particles in solution, configured to dispense the particles at the surface of the carrier on the surface of the carrier fluid in the zone acting as a reservoir; and a mechanism raising a level of the carrier fluid by capillary effect, arranged at a junction between the zone acting as a reservoir and the inclined ramp.

Abstract: An installation for forming a compact film of particles on a surface of a carrier fluid, including a zone acting as a reservoir of carrier fluid, an inclined ramp, a particle storage and transfer zone, a mechanism moving the carrier fluid, a mechanism for dispensing the particles in solution, configured to dispense the particles on the surface of the carrier fluid in the zone acting as a reservoir, and a structure for deflecting the particles configured to favor, along a transverse direction of the installation, spreading of the particles at the outlet of the zone acting as a reservoir. The structure for deflecting particles is permeable to the carrier fluid.

Abstract: A method for depositing particles on a substrate, or a running substrate, including: (a) producing at least one first compact film of particles floating on a carrier liquid provided in a transfer area having an outlet of particles arranged facing the substrate; (b) producing at least one pattern by depositing a substance on the first film in the transfer area, along a contour of the pattern, the substance maintaining the particles of the film together in contact with the substance; (c) removing at least one portion of the particles of the first film located interiorly relatively to the contour, or exteriorly relatively to the contour; and then (d) transferring patterns onto the substrate through the outlet of particles.

Abstract: A method for producing an assembly of particles bound by a substrate, including: making a compact film of solid particles floating on a carrier liquid, the solid particles potentially holding objects between them; spraying particles onto a face of the compact film opposite to the one immersed in a carrier liquid, to create a substrate-forming-skin adhering to the solid particles; and extracting an obtained assembly outside the carrier liquid.

Abstract: An optical method for characterizing a diffractive surface having a crystal grain structure, including the steps of: a) successively illuminating said surface with a plurality of light beams (Fi) having propagation directions inclined by a same angle ?; relative to the normal to the surface and of which the projections on the surface form azimuth angles ?{umlaut over (?)} that are different relative to a reference direction; b) acquiring an image of the surface corresponding to each of the light beams; and c) digitally processing images to obtain at least one item of information on at least one property of the surface chosen from: the grain structure, texture and level of ordering thereof. An optical head (TO) and apparatus for implementing such a method.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a diffracting surface having a structure made of crystalline grain is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) sequentially illuminating the surface with a plurality of light beams (Fi) having propagation directions that are angled at a same angle ? relative to the normal of the surface and the projections, onto the surface, of which form different azimuth angles ?i relative to a reference direction; b) acquiring an image of the surface corresponding to each of the light beams; and c) digitally processing the images such as to obtain information on at least one property of the surface selected among: the grain structure, the texture and the sequencing rate thereof. The invention also relates to an optical head and to an apparatus for implementing such a method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a segmented optical structure (100), comprising at least the steps consisting in: a) providing a substrate (1) having microwalls (2) on one of the faces (3) of said substrate, which microwalls form, when the substrate (1) is observed along an axis (X) perpendicular to said face, a plurality of concentric recesses (5); b) depositing at least one material (10; 10a; 10b; 10c) in at least one recess (5); c) bringing at least one part of the upper surface (11) of the material (10; 10a; 10b; 10c) deposited in step b) into contact with at least one liquid medium (30) which is capable of dissolving said material (10; 10a; 10b; 10c) and is substantially inert with respect to the microwalls (2) and to the substrate (1); and d) imposing a centrifugal force on the liquid medium (30) deposited in step c) so as to modify the distribution thereof on the upper surface (11) of the material (10; 10a; 10b; 10c) deposited during step b), the amount of liquid medium

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing a chromatography-enrichment column, the method comprising the following steps: (a) depositing at least one layer of desired particles, which may be identical or different, and are intended to constitute the stationary phase, in a compact assembly, on the flat surface of a substrate; (b) crosslinking the layer in at least the regions corresponding to the desired shape of the enrichment column to be obtained; (c) impregnating the layer with a light radiation-sensitive material; (d) insolating the layer obtained in step (c) so as to form insolated regions of which the shape corresponds to the desired internal shape of the enrichment column, if the light radiation-sensitive material behaves like a positive resin or to form non-insolated regions of which the shape corresponds to the desired internal shape of the enrichment column if the light radiation-sensitive material behaves like negative resin; and (e) eliminating the light radiation-sensitive material in the zone

Abstract: A method for forming a film of particles on a carrier liquid present in a receptacle, for depositing this film onto a substrate, the method including: making a film blank between a barrier and a head including a tilted ramp, the blank being obtained by dispensing particles via the tilted ramp and carried out until the particles floating on the carrier liquid occupy a space between the barrier and an upstream front of particles located on the tilted ramp; and elongating the film by continuing dispensing the particles, and moving the head to move away from the barrier, the film elongation being performed to hold a front of particles on the ramp.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing a chromatography analysis column, the resulting column, and a device comprising such a column.

Abstract: A method for depositing particles on a substrate, or a running substrate, including: (a) producing at least one first compact film of particles floating on a carrier liquid provided in a transfer area having an outlet of particles arranged facing the substrate; (b) producing at least one pattern by depositing a substance on the first film in the transfer area, along a contour of the pattern, the substance maintaining the particles of the film together in contact with the substance; (c) removing at least one portion of the particles of the first film located interiorly relatively to the contour, or exteriorly relatively to the contour; and then (d) transferring patterns onto the substrate through the outlet of particles.